Lectures

Pam's Schedule:I am currently booked through 2016 and have openings in July and September of 2017. I do not travel during the months of April, May & December.

To make the most of our time together, you must book at least one lecture and one workshop, or two workshops.

I usually add one or two new workshops each year, and because I often book so far in advance, you have the option of choosing your date(s), and freezing my lecture/workshop fees in a contract, with your choice of lecture/workshops TBD. Once it gets closer to my visit, you can then choose what you'd like from the most current selections.

Secrets of Professional Quilters ~ Revealed!

You know... hearing the story of how I got started in this business would be nice, but wouldn't you rather learn something? I have a lot of really useful information that I think you would appreciate much more!! This Power Point presentation is packed full of very useful information that will teach you to use alternative piecing methods for making units, as well as tips and hints relating to every aspect of quilting. I also share secrets I've gathered over years of trial & error, taking classes, and learning from what fellow designers and national teachers have shared with me.

The lesson begins with learning the "Make it larger - Trim it down" techniques. I demonstrate step-by-step techniques for making units (such as Half Square Triangles, Quarter Square Triangles, Square-in-a-Square units, and Flying Geese) larger than they need to be so they can be trimmed down to be squared and the correct size. These perfectly squared units go on to be perfectly squared blocks, then squared quilts that lay flat and go together easily!! Many, many designers and award winning quilters use these techniques and you can too!

There are also plenty of tips on a variety of subjects such as general pressing tips, pressing Four Patches and Pinwheels to lay perfectly flat, and how to correctly sew Connector Corners, accurate 1/4 inch seams, alternate sewing methods for the Corner Square Triangle units, how to hide flaws and errors, and so much more!

After watching the Power Point presentation, I bring along more than 40 quilts to view up close and personal, all made with the techniques shown in the presentation.

Don't worry about taking notes during the lecture! All of the hints, tips, tricks, secrets, and how-to's featured in my lecture (and so much more) are contained in the 60+ page Heartspun Quilts Hint's Book! The book is available for sale for $15. You won't have to rely on your memory and can take it home to use on a daily basis!!

Lecture Fee: $450 Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours

*Partner with the Practice What I Preach workshop

Making-Do ~ Honoring our American Quilting Heritage

There’s an old saying…. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”

That phrase was a way of life from the moment the pilgrims landed in America through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. We remember our parents and grandparents being frugal with things in their life having lived thru the Great Depression, but never was it more true than for those living in America in the 1800’s.

Making-do affected every aspect of American life for the colonists and pioneers in the nineteenth century. Being that it was a way of life for them, it’s no surprise they “made-do” when piecing their quilts. As testament to this, you’ll find their lovely antique Make-do quilts in private collections and museums, too!

I love to read American history about what life was like during this time period, and my research inspired my quilting club called the Prairie Women’s Sewing Circle. The club focuses on anecdotal stories about what life was like in 1800’s America, and the quilt projects include “Lessons in Making-Do”. Many of the projects have been inspired by my collection of antique Make-Do quilts. People are surprised to learn that most antique quilts have at least some “Make-do” elements in them, therefore, “making-do” is very much a part of our quilting heritage!

I had the honor and privilege of writing an article about Make-do quilts for American Patchwork & Quilting magazine called The Quilting Tradition of Making-do (June 2011 issue) and they have featured several of my other antique Make-do quilts in other issues as well!

You’ll learn how to spot a "Make-do" quilt, tell the difference between a Make-do and a scrappy quilt, and see the wonderful antique Make-do quilts from my collection. For those who enjoy making Civil War Reproduction quilts, this lecture will teach you how to add authentic “Make-Do” elements into your quilts!

Lecture Fee: $450 Approximately 1 to 1 1/2hours

Workshops

Practice What I Preach~ My Most Popular Workshop!

This is a hands-on lesson of the techniques covered in my lecture Secrets of Professional Quilters ~ Revealed!. The skills taught in this class will be used each and every time you quilt!! Here's an opportunity for each student to try many new techniques including the "Make It Larger ~ Trim It Down" technique for Half and Quarter Square Triangles, Flying Geese, and Square in a square units. We'll also cover alternate piecing techniques for the ever popular Corner Square Triangle units. Students then practice what I demonstrate using my tools and notions to see how they like the technique.

We go over a variety of pressing techniques as well. I can help a quilter struggling with accuracy by working with them to improve the accuracy of their 1/4 inch seam by watching the student and/or have them watch me, and offer several helpful options. We will cover how best to handle Connector Corners for perfect results, how to hide flaws and imperfections in the seam allowance, and so much more! If any student would like help with general quilting problems such as those described here, this is an opportunity for one-on-one assistance!

There are 2 flexible options for students who attend this workshop:

Option 1 ~ (Full Cutting Instructions) Participants prepare and cut the fabrics to make the Practice What I Preach quilt. They are making the units for the quilt during the workshop.

Option 2 ~ (Short Cut Instructions) For workshop participants who aren't interested in making the Practice What I Preach quilt, are too busy to cut all of the quilt fabrics ahead of time, or would rather learn the skills taught using scraps, a Short Cut List of cutting instructions is available. They will learn all of the same techinques but will only cut enough fabric to make one of each unit. This is a very popular option!

The Heartspun Quilts book of Quilting Hints, Tips, Secrets and How-To's is required for each participant. It also contains the Practice What I Preach quilt pattern. Book cost for workshop participants only is $10 (regularly $15) and will be available the day of class. (It is not needed prior to class.)

Class Size: max 20 6 hours Fee: $750.00

Spinning Wheel: The look of Traditional Needle~Turn Applique by Machine

Do you love the look of traditional needle-turn applique but think that applique is a four-letter word? Then this is the class for you! You will learn to prepare appliqués using freezer paper and spray starch, and then remove the freezer paper before sewing it to the background fabric!! The appliqués can then be sewn to the background by hand or by machine. The machine stitch is lovely and unobtrusive. Your appliqués remain soft and pliable, just like the traditional Needle-turn method.

The traditional Reel block is perfect for learning this technique as it offers some of the most basic beginning applique shapes, which all come together in a striking wall quilt. You'll get all my tips and tricks along with a wonderful handout that will help you whenever you use this technique. Seeing is believing!!

Learn the fundamentals of English Paper Piecing (EPP) while creating this very unique round fabric ball! Using 12 fabrics of your choice, we hand sew the fabric around the papers, then learn to sew the pieces together. Many thread and needle hints and tips are taught as well, making this very popular class not only an educational experience, but an enjoyable and relaxing class as well. The finished fabric ball then sits inside a vintage tin Jell-O mold making this pin cushion unique, indeed!

I love a quilt that looks like it was really difficult to make but was easy breezy to put together. That's the perfect way to describe my Settler's Puzzle quilt! The quilt features two very unassuming blocks, that when arranged within the quilt…like puzzle pieces…create the wonderful pattern you see in the quilt center. Pair together two lovely, high contrasting fabrics for a truly stunning quilt.

I will also give you my best tips for making perfect half square triangles, along with my tips for sawtooth borders that fit, and have sharp points! Let's solve this puzzle together!

Fabric kits are available in select colorings of Pam's fabric collections with Marcus Fabrics. Students have the option of choosing their own fabric as well. Settler's Puzzle pattern required $9. (available the day of class)

Class size: Max 20 6 hoursFee: $750.00Star Strings Quilt & Pincushion WorkshopYou may recognize this quilt from being featured in Primitive Quilts magazine, and on the cover of their 2015 calendar! Because I've had so many requests, I've added this quilt to my workshop offerings.

This scrappy quilt features a variety of scrappy Sawtooth Star blocks, each featuring a string paper pieced center! This adds a little more twinkle to each star!

The fundamentals of paper piecing are covered, as well as choosing just the right fabrics to make so each student can make their own Cover Girl worthy quilt!

Checkerboard Stars is one of three quilts featured in my Gathering In Red pattern, which is the first pattern in the Tokens of the Pastseries. This quilt is great fun to make as it features two of my all time favorite blocks: Sawtooth Stars and Checkerboard patchwork blocks. During our time together in class, I'll be passing along my techniques for speedy and efficient piecing of super scrappy patchwork blocks like this, and for making perfect Flying Geese units for the Sawtooth Stars blocks.

While we're at it, I'll teach you my techniques for perfect Half Square Triangles, and Quarter Square Triangles, too, just in case you'd like to make all three quilts! You'll be an expert on all of the techniques in no time!

Often, kits for the Checkerboard Stars quilt are available. Inquire by email to Pam@HeartspunQuilts.com

Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Red pattern (all three quilts are included!) is required. Pattern price for workshop participants is $9 (regularly $14.50) and will be available the day of class.

Nines in Blueis one of three quilts featured in my Nine Patch Reverie pattern, the third pattern in the Tokens of the Pastseries. This very unique and graphic quilt is made entirely from four variations of Nine Patch blocks! Choose to make this quilt in one of two ways...as a two color quilt, or with a light background and scrappy Nine Patches (shown below.)

During our time together in class, I'll be passing along my techniques for accuracy in strip piecing and patchwork piecing. You can choose to make your quilt in one of three sizes!! Shown at the right are the small and medium sized quilts.Often, kits for the Nines In Blue quilts are are available. Inquire by email to Pam@HeartspunQuilts.com

Tokens of the Past: Nine Patch Reverie pattern (including all three quilts shown on the cover, all with various sizes!) is required. Pattern price for workshop participants is $9 (regularly $14.50) and will be available the day of class.

Class size: 20 maximum6 hoursFee: $750.00

Tokens of the Past Series:Starry, Starry Nines

Starry, Starry Ninesis one of three quilts featured in my Nine Patch Reverie pattern, the third pattern in the Tokens of the Pastseries. This quilt has three fun blocks to make, and of course, features Nine Patch blocks! Choose to make this quilt in one of two sizes...as a wall hanging/table topper, or a lap/throw size (shown below.)

During our time together in class, I'll be passing along my techniques for making units larger and trimming to perfection and accurate piecing. Remember, everyone in class can choose to make their quilt in one of two sizes!! Shown at the right are the wall hanging and lap/throw sized quilts.Often, kits for the Starry, Starry Nines quilt are are available. Inquire by email to Pam@HeartspunQuilts.com

Tokens of the Past: Nine Patch Reverie pattern (including all three quilts shown on the cover, all with various sizes!) is required. Pattern price for workshop participants is $9 (regularly $14.50) and will be available the day of class.